Small sportbike rant

[Cliff]

I like the look of many sport bikes, but my preference is for a cruiser style bike.

I also have nothing against anyone on a street/sport bike ..

BUT

What REALLY REALLY pisses me off is when I see younger guys acting like total idiots while riding.

On a busy road (4 lanes each way) in town, I have seen guys doing all kinds of acrobatic stunts. Standing on the bike, doing handstands (upside down), hanging their whole body off one side of the bike and sliding their feet along the street like they are on rolleiskates whole only holding onto the handles of the bike and doing stoppies and wheelies, not to mention weaving dangerously between cars.

TWICE I have been on the freeway when a large group of guys on street bikes have lined up side by side, 2 bikes per lane, all the way across all lanes of traffic and slowed down to 30mph. With no traffic ahead of them, 2 bikes will pull out slightly ahead of the line of bikes and then race. This is not only very dangerous, but very stupid.

Acts like this give ALL motorcycle riders a bad reputation, and it really makes me mad that a few idiots out there make us all look bad.

[Clint]

Being in a slightly crouched position with some of your weight supported by your legs and your arms in a bent, high-leverage position is far mor "natural" than flopped back on your tailbone, IMO.

The fact remains: About ten times as many cruiser riders transition to sportbikes or standards than vice versa. They must discover something.

[Trapper]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

The fact remains: About ten times as many cruiser riders transition to sportbikes or standards than vice versa. They must discover something.

Now, that's not like you, pulling stats out of your..a..er..hat like that. I disagree even though I've considered the switch. It just seems that a cruiser would be the natural progression for an aging rider.

[Clint]

It's true. I've been active at several bike forums and I hear all the time about cruiser riders going to sportbikes or sport-touring bikes. I almost never hear it the other way. There's just no real advantage for cruisers other than looks (which, of course, is subjective). Most people think they're more comfortable until they try something different (and I don't mean riding someone's R1 for five blocks).

The oldest rider I've met in person, a 70-something I met at a diner, had just upgraded from a Bandit to a Hayabusa for his touring needs. There's a reason BMW, Honda, Yamaha, Ducati and the others build their touring bikes like they do. It's the position that stays comfortable after days on end.

[QuacktheDuck]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

It's true. I've been active at several bike forums and I hear all the time about cruiser riders going to sportbikes or sport-touring bikes. I almost never hear it the other way. There's just no real advantage for cruisers other than looks (which, of course, is subjective).

I was one of those who switched over to cruisers...(sv to m50) but then i switched back (m50 to strom). I went the cruiser route because i liked the styling (hey at least i'm honest about it!). However, over a relatively short period of time i found myself with alot to be desired in all other aspects which made riding fun for me. Now i'll never go back.

[Shea]

I agree with Rowdy. Street fighters and sport tourers def have the most comfortable seat positions. If you sit back on a cruiser with your legs up, that is HORRIBLE for the spine. Sit upright, back in good posture, which a sport tourer helps create, knees below your hips (good for your back), and feet under or close to under your knees. This is the ideal seated positioning reocommended by physical therapists.

[Jonger]

Regardless of whatever stats you have, there are like 20 times more cruisers here then anything else. That might be a conservative estimate too.

Just to clear things up and correct an error on my part, I think my main point was with race replicas more then sport tourings. Sport Tourings make sense to me, race replicas not being used on a track do not.

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Being in a slightly crouched position with some of your weight supported by your legs and your arms in a bent, high-leverage position is far mor "natural" than flopped back on your tailbone, IMO.

The fact remains: About ten times as many cruiser riders transition to sportbikes or standards than vice versa. They must discover something.

[viper94bite]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

It's true. I've been active at several bike forums and I hear all the time about cruiser riders going to sportbikes or sport-touring bikes. I almost never hear it the other way. There's just no real advantage for cruisers other than looks (which, of course, is subjective). Most people think they're more comfortable until they try something different (and I don't mean riding someone's R1 for five blocks).

The oldest rider I've met in person, a 70-something I met at a diner, had just upgraded from a Bandit to a Hayabusa for his touring needs. There's a reason BMW, Honda, Yamaha, Ducati and the others build their touring bikes like they do. It's the position that stays comfortable after days on end.

I have to agree with Rowdy here. I too am one that switched from cruisers to sport. In my experience the cruiser seating position is what hurt me physically. The upright jarring of my spine would make it hard to walk after a ride. I now have a sport tourer. However I have gone and sat on just about every bike out there. Varies on brand. The kawasaki ninjas not including the 250/500 are too agresseve in the seating as well as the honda RR's. However the yami's and zukes are very comfortable too me. They just seem a bit more upright. I do miss having a cruiser for the looks and the sound. However I am not willing to scrape pegs around every corner and have a sore back to ride one. But like has been said already it really is just a matter of preference.

[stp1971]

Well the "LC" I have is one Dang comfortable bike. Now I will be honest and say that I have dumped ALOT of money into bling for the bike to make it that way. But both the V-Strom and the "LC" has it's own advantages.

If you got a cruiser just throw on a Mustang seat with a backrest, a gel pad, and a set of Highway bars w/pegs and you will find that it can be pretty comfortable.

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

There's just no real advantage for cruisers other than looks (which, of course, is subjective).

My GF would never get on the back of my ST bike, but she loves riding on the cruiser. The passenger accomodations are much better, and I find the C50 with a windshield and a mustang seat to be very comfortable, my feet get big floorboards instead of little teeny pegs, It's not a stretch of the toe to upshift.

Sorry, but for me a cruiser is more comfortable, and it's riding characteristics are well suited to legal and sane street and road riding.

Besides, cruiser riders are far cooler than anybody else according to gov't research I recently fabricated.

[intimid8er]

In an informal poll conducted by my friends and I.

4 out of 5 young ladies whose job description includes interacting with a brass pole preferred "Harley type" bikes over "those sport-bike plastic thingy's"!

IMHO-Nothing is made anymore to place your feet in a "proper" position which is directly under you. Cruisers are all feet forward, and sport-bikes (naked or faired) and "standards" still have the pegs set a little rearward. Not as extreme as rear sets, but still a little rearward for my taste. It's all passed down from the marketing department. Although, I hear the new Ninja 650r's are designed with the rider in mind. Not just one type either, but all types. It's a little frustrating that all bikes are designed with a 5'7" 150 lb rider in mind.

[stp1971]

Ok Tim,,,, have you forgot about the riding position of the Strom's,,,, surely you haven't!!!! Although the reach to the ground might be a challenge for someone under 5' 8",, it is right underneath you.

[viper94bite]

my pegs are right beneath me!

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by stp1971

Ok Tim,,,, have you forgot about the riding position of the Strom's,,,, surely you haven't!!!! Although the reach to the ground might be a challenge for someone under 5' 8",, it is right underneath you.

I wouldn't know....I've never ridden one. I've sat on one. To me my feet were "slightly" rearward. Not as extreme as a Gixxer, but still rearward nonetheless. Don't kill me guys!!! LOL I didn't say "all" bikes!! I've sat on just about every model there is. I still find most of the positions of "standards" (i.e. V-strom) a "little" bit rearward. That may be just me though. Remember me asking Don about how tall he was when he test rode the V-strom? He mentioned his wrists hurt after a while. Indicative of a forward leaning position. I got a 34" inseam. So most stuff folds me up. Either cruiser or whatnot.

I guess I'm just a fan of the old Nighthawks!!!

[blackie1491]

Tim
Here I thought you were a fan of the Brass Pole!!!!!

[stp1971]

Actually they do sit slighly rearward now that I am thinking about it. But not much. They are as close to the old Nighthawks as I can remember as well.

Kelley has a 450 Nighthawk and it rides about the same as the V-Strom does. In fact he rode my Strom yesterday and commented on how comfortable he was and it rode like his Nighthawk (1982 Variety).

[intimid8er]

Eh.....I guess I miss my old '51!! Check out the peg position.

You could ride that sucker all day...

(P.S. Pic is not of my own previously owned bike, as I do not have any pics. It is of the same bike, and in FAR better shape than the one I owned years ago!! )

[svjoe]

i own 1 of each( 1 cruiser(2006 c-50t)/1 semi-naked street-fighter(2003 sv1000s) and each has its appeal to me. i can understand your opinions, because frankly alot of sportbike riders(young and old) give us all a bad name. what can you do? are you going to label a whole niche of enthusiasts hoodlums? if thats the case, what about all the stuck up " i am better than you, because i ride a cruiser and dont recognize sportbike rider guys?" i see that more often than not if i am riding the rocket. i wave, cruiser guys dont wave back.
so who knows?.....................

[MagnumForce]

Even though the 'disclaimer' on the initial post said this rant wasn't supposedly directed at sportbike riders that follow the law, it still questions their choice for riding a sportbike. I still think this thread attempts to stereotype sportbike riders as squids or potential squids simply because their bikes are capable of going well beyond legal speeds. I suppose I could stereotype a certain cruiser rider as the same stuck up cruiser riders that don't wave at me when I ride my CBR, but I won't. I have better things to worry about.

[Mute]

I like my "cruisers" but I want to get another sportbike in a bad way! as for leaning over, sit on a few of them and really pay attention to the way you are actually sitting instead of the ay you feel like you are sitting. The most effective sport bike will be more or less like sticking a pin through your hips and pivoting your body on it. Can still be a little hairy with a passenger who refuses to hold her own weight up though..

For doing illegal stuff, thats where it comes down to wether you are a new rider or not. Hell, I think most people I know, and definately myself, didnt help the way most people view "rocket" rideres. I still have a hard time controlling myself on a "R" bike.. lol